176 CLOSING OF THE PORTS. 
though not so disastrous as the first, it turned 
out about as unprofitable. 
Although this expedition was composed 
wholly of Texans, or persons not claiming to 
be citizens of the United States, and organized 
entirely in Texas—and, notwithstanding the 
active measures adopted by the United States 
government to defend the caravans, as well of 
exicans as of Americans, against their ene- 
my—Senor Bocanegra, Mexican Minister of 
Foreign Relations, made a formal demand 
upon the United States (as will be remember- 
ed), for damages resulting from this invasion. 
In a rejoinder to Gen. Thompson (alluding to 
Snively’s company), he says, that “ Independ- 
ence, in Missouri, was the starting point of 
these men.” The preceding narrative will 
show the error under which the honorable 
secretary labored. 
A portion of the party who killed Chavez 
was from the frontier of Missouri; but witness 
the active exertions on the border to bring 
these depredators to justice—and then let the 
contrast be noted betwixt this affair and the 
impunity with which robberies are every 
day committed throughout Mexico, where 
well-known highwaymen often run at large, 
unmolested either by the citizens or by the 
authorities. What would Sefior Bocanegra 
say if every other government were to de- 
mand indemnity for all the robberies com- 
mitted upon their citizens in Mexico ? 
But the most unfortunate circumstance at- 
tending this invasion of the Prairies—unfortu- 
